Lack of space for wildlife is hurting conservation efforts, the government has said.
Environment CS Judi Wakhungu said poaching has declined, but there is not enough space for wildlife. She spoke yesterday at the African Wildlife Foundation offices in Ngong during a Global Conversation event. Saving elephants and rhinos was the event’s theme. About 40 per cent of wildlife space has been lost due to infrastructure and farming. This has increased human-wildlife conflict. Kenya Wildlife Service director general Kitili Mbathi said: “Hard decisions have to be made to find corridors in areas where wildlife exist.” KWS head of conservation Patrick Omondi said human encroachment on wildlife corridors and dispersal areas hurts conservation efforts. “Human-wildlife conflict has been rising and it has something to do with land use and management. Something has to be done as proper zoning will be critical,” he said.
In 2013, 302 elephants and 59 rhinos were killed. In 2014, 164 elephants were killed.
Last year, 96 elephants were killed as well as 11 rhinos.
Kenya has about 35,000 elephants and 1,122 rhinos. Wakhungu said individuals should donate land to conservancies. Former minister John Keen donated 100 acres by signing Kenya’s first voluntary easement deal.
